QUETTA: Veteran Pashtoon nationalist leader and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Sunday called for the formation of a joint democratic alliance to defend the country's Constitution and Parliament.

"Federation's existence would be endangered if democracy was derailed this time," Achakzai told a crowded press conference at Quetta Press Club.

Achakzai said that the country faced an extremely grave situation and political forces must bury the hatchet to defend the federation.

"Federation would seize to exist," he warned and added that "if this fragile democracy was derailed, we cannot persuade the Baloch to be part of federation."

The seasoned politician lamented over what he called stick-wielding supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for making the people hostage in the federal capital.

He said the country cannot be developed and changed through use of force rather rule of law, supremacy of Parliament and Constitution can guarantee a prosperous and developed Pakistan.

"Stick-wielding people in Islamabad are insulting the mandate of 18 crores plus population," he said.

When asked about the status of the military and civilian leadership in the current crisis, Achakzai said both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif were on one page with regard to current political crisis.

Besides this, he said all political forces from treasury and opposition benches were united in protecting the constitution and parliament.

Achakzai reiterated that there were two forces in the country, one of which was defending constitution and the other was bent upon derailing the system to achieve their nefarious designs.

He said the protesters had blocked roads leading to the Parliament, Supreme Court and other important offices.

"Red zone is nervous system of the State and nobody has to be allowed to enter there," he said.

The PkMAP chairman called for launching probe into May 12, 2007 incident and bringing the perpetrators to book.

He lamented that lawyers were burnt to death and not even a deputy commission was sacked from his post.

Regarding Afghanistan, the veteran Pashtun nationalist leader said that a friendly Afghanistan can ensure strategic depth for Pakistan.

While quoting meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Karzai he said, "Karzai told Nawaz to accept a sovereign Afghanistan and then friendship can be ensured between the two countries".